GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW ENGLAND CENTRAL RAILROAD INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.

Participants:
Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02),
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.),
and Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
will join Connecticut Department of Transportation
(ConnDOT) Commissioner James Redeker and the New England Central Railroad, a subsidiary of Darien-based Genesee &
Wyoming Inc., for a groundbreaking ceremony for infrastructure upgrades to the railroad.
This event will highlight the U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER grant awarded to upgrade rail infrastructure to
accommodate modern freight rail carloads up to 286,000 lbs.
The ceremony will feature a moving train breaking a banner to symbolically kick-off the effort.
Where: 75 Bridge St., Willimantic (behind the Windham Chamber of Commerce)

Challenge: accepted. Chelsea Groton Bank accepted a local bank’s friendly challenge to raise awareness for ALS research. Led by President and CEO Michael Rauh, more than 70 employees joined together to participate in the challenge. In addition to getting soaked for a good cause, Chelsea Groton Foundation donated $1,000 to the CT Chapter of the ALS Association and $500 to the ALS Soccer Cup in New London and called out the big national banks to match the donation proportionately. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V88AfaHnwzg to check out their challenge.

“In our 160 years of business, Chelsea Groton has never shied away from a challenge or responsibility so it was natural for us to join together, grab our buckets of ice water and answer the call,” remarked Michael Rauh. “For us, it’s all about investing in the communities we serve to improve the quality of life for all.”

Since July 29, the ice bucket challenge has raised more than $100 million, donated by 3 million people, tofund cutting-edge research as well as care and support to people living with the disease. To learn more about ALS association and the ice bucket challenge, visit www.alsa.org/about-als/

The Interior Redecorators Network® (IRN), the international organization of one-day decorators with members in more than 100 cities, has been witnessing a strong trend across the U.S. this spring: Home sellers are putting more time and money than ever before into the outward appearance of houses and condos before putting properties on the market.

One of the reasons home front fix ups have gained popularity is the affordability of outdoor decor. Installing new coach lights and house numbers in coordinated metallic finishes can provide most houses and condos with an elegant, updated look, instantly, without requiring major investment. Repainting mailboxes and adding fresh mulch to garden beds and at the base of trees reflects good care without requiring a major investment. Solar plant lights add drama by illuminating pathways and landscaping for homes shown in the evening and can be moved to new residences after properties have sold, if desired.

Real estate brokers are some of the biggest proponents of exterior enhancements as many prospective buyers refuse to get out of the car to view homes that don’t show well from the street. “First impressions are powerful. Buyers either want to see more or move onto another house, based on the appearance of a home’s exterior,” says Dina Maddock, a licensed real estate agent with Adache Real Estate in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. IRN founder, Lauri Ward, concurs. “Like blind dates that don’t advance to the next level because of lack of attraction, homes that don’t look appealing from the outside won’t entice prospective buyers to look further, today.”

The Interior Redecorators Network is a 501C not-for-profit trade organization of certified interior redecorators located across North America and in Australia, Europe and South America. The organization’s founder, Lauri Ward, recognized for pioneering the one day room makeover niche, has become known through her frequent television appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” ABC Evening News,” The Today Show,” various HGTV shows as well as many other national programs and publications..